- EDIT - 28/03/2013
Nose Secret has very generously offered a discount to my readers, simply quote the code COSPLAY when ordering to enjoy a 20% discount! <3

They've also assured me that the splints should not be uncomfortable to wear daily as long as you pick the right size! Therefore before you order please make sure you measure your nose (following the directions on the nose secret website) carefully to ascertain which size you should be wearing).

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Ya'll know I hate my nose when I cosplay, right?

Anyway, I've been making do with a combination of makeup highlighter, sucking in my nostrils when I pose, and photoshop when I cosplay, but recently I stumbled upon this gold mine of epic nose-saving.

NOSE SECRET <---- THIS IS THE LINK. CLICK ON IT. <3

I looked through the site and did a bit of reading, and at first I was kind of skeptical, but at 35USD, I thought it wasn't too expensive to try out. They have that 2-week refund policy going on, anyway.

My package arrived quite promptly, within a week of payment.

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I ordered the SML kit, just to be safe. The kit came in a cute little organza pouch, with instructions, a little card calendar, and with each pair packed separately.

What nose secret is is basically a pair of flexible plastic splints that you insert into your nostril, and it pushes the tip of your nose up and out, making it appear sharper and more refined.

The scary looking hook thing is for removal of the splints from your nose.

I took one look at the M and L sizes and decided that they were not going into my nose lol. So I tried the S, and luckily enough, it was a decent fit.

I'm not going to lie. They are as uncomfortable as fook. Wearing the splints isn't painful, but it literally feels like someone put a hook into your nostrils and is gently tugging on it.

However, the results are instant.

OMG. I can haz sharp nose. <3
These photos haven't been shopped, you can see how my nose has become all pointy. I did apply a filter to save my horrible complexion though, many pardons. Haven't been sleeping enough recently.

I'm super pleased with the results, though I'm not sure if I'll be wearing them for every single cosplay. Probably to events, so that at least I won't look entirely ugly on camera, especially since you can't shop every single event photo of you there is. LOL.

So anyway, I really recommend this for cosplayers especially, for once-in-a-while use. Daily use.. Probably not, unless you can get over how uncomfortable it is.

Don't wear these to the gym, while you're out on a run, exercising, swimming, sleeping, etc. Do not prod or pinch or pull your nose forcefully while wearing the splints, they will hurt. Also do not allow anyone to prod or pinch or pull your nose, and most certainly not punch you while you're wearing them, although imo the splints should be the least of your concerns in that sort of situation. Either run, or retaliate with great fury. Or you can retaliate, and then run.

Or you could dodge..
 
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This cosplay is taking way too long to complete. School term's started, and besides coursework and the other little technicalities of life, I'm spending most of my free time gaming or exercising to blow off steam. Which leaves me with an hour or two each night, should I actually feel like working on anything cosplay-related lol.

Decided to try something different with the headpiece, instead of the usual craft foam. These are made almost entirely from 3D puffy paint, which I hoped would look more like metalwork and less like, well, craft foam.

It's a really simple process. I sketched out the pieces on a piece of paper and traced them onto a clear file. I then went over it with puffy paint. The stuff kind of like sinks and spreads out, so it created a nice raised surface with rounded edges, unlike the boxy sharp edges that craft foam would give, if that makes sense. After the first layer dried, I went over with another layer, and then after that dried and set, the raised details were drawn on in thin lines.

If I'd embedded thin wire in the paint, I could have just peeled off the pieces and used them as they were, but alas I didn't, so instead I cut them out with a craft knife together with the plastic file.

The main piece aka that birdlike thing needed extra reinforcement, so I cut a length of stiff wire, bent it into shape, and glued it to the back, adding a copious layer of hotglue over it to conceal it. The body of the bird (that just sounds so weird, Idek) was cut from two layers of craft foam and then glued onto the wings.


These are just going to be glued onto a thin hairband so they can be worn easily. I should probably get started on the costume itself soon. LOL.
 
Managed to set aside some time over the weekend to finish up my SSX chakrams, as well as get started on some small accessories to go with the costume. In my opinion the chakrams took waaaay too much time, I was hoping for it to be a simple project, but alas ;_;